The first day of school...at home.

Did I just say that?

Do you hear something?

Quiet for a second...

Sounds like someone... eating...?

Oh wait, that's Mark (i.e. me), eating my words after deriding, mocking, slandering, berating all things homeschool.

It's only fitting that I would eat my words on the first day of school (for Ames, that is).

Here's the history...

I have posted a few times in favor of public school over homeschool. My posts regarding homeschool have stirred up quite a bit of emotion-filled responses. Although I made some facetious remarks about homeschool kids ("trading Lord of the Rings cards and playing games that require dice that have more than 6 sides"), truth be told, my intent was not to bash homeschool, just the idea that it's the "biblical" option. That was the whole point of the first post on the topic, as I was responding to the following quote:

Christians should have no part in the government school system. However, I would challenge any Christian to give me a Scriptural basis for sending young children away from their parents for eight or more hours a day to be indoctrinated by a system which is anti-God. You can search the Scriptures high and low, but it isn't there

So taking my own advice, last year we sent our daughter to public school.

I don't have any regrets. Ava had a positive public school experience: A knowledgeable and hard working teacher, a school committed to excellence, and she made lots of friends. What I loved most about the public school experience: the recess scene, where Ava was forced to navigate challenging social environments.

Here's what I didn't love about the experience:

- The limited time we had with her.

We would send her off to school in the morning, and she would get home around 3:30, exhausted. Then, we would send her to bed around 6:30 and do it again for the next 4 days. There was very little time to supplement her learning. Most of our effort went into trying to get her to process social interactions from the day. That part I enjoyed. (i.e. "Dad, Shruti brought in one of her idols for show and tell..." (We live in a very diverse part of town with many international students, which we love.)

- The math curriculum.

I helped out every Wednesday for an hour with "Everyday Math." I was not a fan. I think some researchers had too much time on their hands with this one. Of course, in our world of socially constructing new reality and throwing out anything that reminds us of Modernity, and with government grants on the line, we need to come up with new ways to teach kids how to solve math problems. Each person should figure out their own way to get to an answer. Do what's best for them. Flash cards, of course, will not suffice. That's too narrow. Too 19th century. Something Newton might've done.

And so this is the convo that may have sealed it for me...

Leatha: "Ava, what's 3+2?"

Ava: "6"

Leatha: "Don't you memorize math facts in school."

Ava: "I don't know. We don't do that kind of math."

Leatha went on to show her the ones and tens columns and how to add. It was revolutionary.

Both Leatha and I loved math growing up. I think there's an appeal to the objective nature of basic math- there's a right answer and a way you can remember to get there.

I'm sure I have some readers who have taught the "everyday math" curriculum. I know there's something I'm missing- there probably is something legit to the curriculum. I'm only speaking based on what I saw last year while working with the students, and with my own daughter. I thought she would've been much better off just memorizing math facts. That's just me. But as I've heard almost EVERY teacher who is familiar with the curriculum say, "It's not for everyone" or "It's all about repetition- they'll catch on next year" or "It's a challenging curriculum to teach correctly" (which is not a concern here- Ava's teacher did an excellent job with it).

Moreover, I'm not just responding to the curriculum, but the worldview that got us that curriculum. To be sure, learning has taken a major turn in the last 100 years... or 50...or 25. There's a new approach to almost everything. Are Americans smarter or dumber than 100 years ago?

There are so many factors, I know that's not necessarily a fair statement (put one tally next to "straw man argument" for me).

But my point is that I always downplayed the superiority of homeschool education, until my kid came home from school struggling with basic math skills.

Notice I don't have any comments about my issues with reading. I think that's because Leatha taught Ava how to read and write in kindergarten. Ava devours books, mostly because of Leatha's hard work last year. (click here for the book Leatha used). Leatha says that Ava might have taken steps backward after first grade. Yikes.

I have always said that I didn't want academics to be our overriding concern. I think one would be hard pressed to argue that a public school is a better education than homeschool ... but in this case I really want our kids to have a strong foundation with the basics... reading, writing, and math.

- The class size.

I felt bad for the teacher. As amazing as she was, it's just plain hard to teach 24 first graders all day in one small classroom. Two years ago Leatha sat down with Ava one on one everyday and with blood, sweat and tears, taught her how to read. I'm so proud of Leatha's investment. She deposited something into Ava that will be with her forever.

Even when the size of the groups gets broken down (in math, for example), I would still have a very capable kid getting pulled down by another kid who just wanted to squirm around in his chair and find excuses to get up (sharpen pencil, go to the bathroom, etc).

So here's where I'm at now...

Whatever side you're on with this, remember, I'm talking about my two school age kids, who are only 7 and 6. I'm not trying to make sweeping judgments about what's better. At this time, Leatha and I thought homeschool would be the best option.

I still love the public school environment for how it prepares kids for real world social environments. I also love the opportunities for our kids to reach out and show love to their peers. But for now, I think the focus for us needs to be building a solid foundation of "reading, writing, arithmetic." We're also doing a "Classical Conversations" class once a week to help with the education. More on that another time.

Anyone want to do a play date at our house? I just got the Lord of the Rings trading card game, and these dice to go with it...

Dads, this is a must listen

I got kicked in the butt with this message. It's especially challenging to dads. Man up and listen.

Another Homeschool Rant

It's fall and school is about to start. It reminds me of a fun "discussion" this summer with a smart friend about home school. He's very much in favor of home school.

I know it's a little redundant to describe any pro-homeschooler as "smart", because they all pretty much are. But this dude isn't your ordinary home school cat.

But this didn't stop me from taking him on- just me and my public school education.

I'm going to re-create the discussion to the best of my knowledge (making myself sound smarter and more articulate, of course). I will let him remain anonymous, unless he chooses to weigh in with his comments, and reveal his identity... (although his initials are T.L.)

Me: "I'm really okay with home school, I just hate it when people use Bible verses to show why parents ought to home school. This lady pulled this on me at family camp this year, using Voddie Baucham's argument about letting Caesar train our kids. I don't think the Bible is pro-home school."

Him: "I think it is. For example, the command in Deuteronomy 6 is to 'teach our kids diligently'."

Me: "What are we to 'teach our kids diligently'? Geometry proofs? The Periodic Table? History? I don't think that's at all what that passage is about."

Tim (Ooops, I mean Him): "You're assuming that knowledge is amoral, and it's not. We have a responsibility to train our kids with a Christian worldview."

Me: "Yeah, but in that Sh'ma passage, the command is to diligently teach the Scriptures- God's word- not Reading, Writing, and Arithmetic."

Him: "But wouldn't you say that you've failed as a parent if you haven't taught them how to read?"

Me: "No, you haven't failed. You could be an illiterate Berber out in the Sahara teaching your child to love God with all his or her heart, soul and mind and never teach them to read or write or do multiplication tables. The imperative of Deuteronomy 6 is not to home school your kids because that's not the only way to teach them the word and ways of God."

Him: "So you're happy to send your kids to someone else for 8 hours a day so they can teach them- and that during an age when they are most impressionable?"

Me: "I think teachers are generally doing a good job of teaching what they are paid to teach- reading, writing, math..."

Him: "But there is definitely a worldview attached to what they're teaching. It's impossible for them to be objective. Moreover, grade school is when they are most impressionable."

Me: "I think my teachers through grade school had very little negative influence over my thinking. If they were poisoning my mind, it was a drop in the ocean of the influence that was my parents, church, etc. By the time I got to junior high/high school, when evolution was being taught, I was strengthened in my faith because it made me own my reasons for believing in the Creator God."

Him: "But in high school there are other real social pressures that you can't deny (i.e. drug use). Do you want to subject your kids to that?"

Me: "I want to win the high school for Christ."

At this point it went back and forth some more. He made some great points and really made me think. We also talked about how we need to foster an environment (esp. at church) where people can feel the freedom to make the best choice for them, and not say, "I'm ok if you home school (or public school)" but in your heart you still pass judgment.

So I'm cool with home school or Christian school, and of course public school, but please stop using the Bible to say, "The Bible is pro-home school."

Funny stuff

I can't believe I just found out about this. It's laughter I've been missing out on all these years.

Tim Hawkins is a funny dude. Check out his youtube site.

Thanks, Scheibe for the lead with Tim Hawkins' home school video (this is also on his youtube site). Also, if you just do a search for "Tim Hawkins" on youtube you'll find more funny videos. We loved the kids rock.

Home schoolers are all Amish wanna-be's

Just kidding.

I went to this home school extravaganza on Friday. I stopped by to see my daughter, Ava, who was tagging along with some friends (Thanks, Wallaces!). Truthfully, I was looking for more ammunition for another home school rant. I was trying to fine tune my argument by verifying that home schoolers are indeed a little out of touch.

I was shocked.

I only saw two tight pairs of jogging pants with Walmart shoes. Only two sets of kids trading Lord of the Rings cards in the corner (this is the Christian version of Dungeons and Dragons). Everyone else, for the most part, I probably could not pick out of a crowd as home schoolers.

I think this goes to show that the tides are turning a little. Home school moms are more culturally savvy than ten years ago, taking care to make sure their kids don't get out of touch with what's going on "out there."

I will also say that I'm pretty sure I wasn't giving speeches as a first, second, or even fourth grader. These kids are having to do research, organize thoughts, and communicate effectively in front of a group of people. That's about as practical as education gets...

So chalk it up for the home school team.

Current Tally:
Home school 2 (This and Erin Meschke's response)
Public school 4 (I'm not sure how we got four points, but we're still in the lead by a close margin)
Christian school -2 (The two Christian butt heads I met the other day... a blog soon to come on that topic)

Anyone want to go to bat for the Christian schoolers?

Apologies

I couldn't believe it.

I had no idea.

I just found out tonight this girl was home schooled.

Not just that- this girl broke every stereotype- and she was home schooled from second grade all the way through high school!

Thanks, Annie Lanzen, for vindicating all the home school advocates (and showing that my generalizations are just that- generalizations that aren't true for every individual).

Homeschooling Response

Some of our good friends from Portland, Andy and Erin Meschke, wrote a thoughtful response to my take on home school (via email). I posted it under the comments section of "Homeschooling- John Denver's Mistake." I think there are some great points to consider- thanks Andy and Erin...

Homeschooling- John Denver's Mistake

I recently read an article on homeschooling.

Here is one of the quotes,

Christians should have no part in the government school system. However, I would challenge any Christian to give me a Scriptural basis for sending young children away from their parents for eight or more hours a day to be indoctrinated by a system which is anti-God. You can search the Scriptures high and low, but it isn't there.

Who has the burden of proof? Me to demonstrate that it's "biblical" to send kids to public school?

Let me give you an example of why this is a lame argument. Consider the following statement...

Christians should not live in the suburbs, take out mortgages, drive cars that cost over $10,000, attend a church that has a building, attend church on Sunday... "you can search the Scriptures high and low, but it isn't there" - it's simply not biblical to do any of those things.

Precisely.

If God wanted to give instruction on these things, he would've put it in there. That's why you can't find it. You're not meant to find it.

The problem might just be that you found somewhere in the Bible where God says to home school. I'm just not convinced that Jesus' reference to Caesar had anything to do with how we educate our kids. Voddie Baucham, who this person referred to, is a great Bible teacher. He should know better than to proof text like that.

I have personal reasons for advocating public schools. Although I think they may be good ideas based on what I know about the Bible, none of them are biblically prescriptive.

I did youth ministry for four years, and I've worked with college students for 5 years. Here are some observations (generalizations, of course, for the sake of discussion):

1. Home schooled kids are much less effective in evangelizing lost friends.
2. Many home school parents made their decision to home school out of fear (what's going to happen to poor Johnny if he hears someone drop the F-bomb? Oh no, his virgin ears... I can't send him out as sheep among wolves.)
3. Home school kids tend to be socially awkward with their peers. If you took a poll, they would be labeled "weird" by their peers.
4. Home school, private school, and public school kids tend to turn out like their parents. If their parents are loving, smart, driven, nerds, worldly, committed to the church, lukewarm in faith, immoral, unfaithful...so their kids will be.
5. Home school parents tend to be more militant about their opinions, which ends up making them aliens in their neighborhoods, schools, etc. and irrelevant for the gospel.
6. Home school parents can shape the culture of a church or youth group, making it ingrown, family centered, and cultic. Not all bad.
7. Home school kids tend to relate better to adults.
8. Home school parents tend to be more legalistic and conservative culturally.
9. Home school kids are more likely to play games that require dice with more than 6 sides.
10. Home school kids tend to be more avid readers.
11. Home school kids are more likely to wear tight jogging pants and jeans that are too short.
12. Home school parents tend to have an "Us vs. Them" view of the world that makes public school teachers out to have a liberal, homosexual, indoctrinating agenda.

The best argument I've heard for home school is that parents want to shape their children's hearts before sending them off. On the other hand, I think public school is a perfect training ground.

John Denver loved the environment. It broke his heart to see rare trees destroyed. At the time, he made a decision that seemed reasonable, but ended up having unintended consequences. He built an indoor wooded area for these special trees. At first the trees seemed to be doing well- the environment was controlled and the trees were closely watched for progress. On the outside, all was well with the trees.

The only problem was that the trees grew to a certain height, and they began falling over. There was a fundamental lesson from this tree debacle, namely, trees need everything the environment has to offer (blazing wind, scorching heat, sub zero wind chill, imperfect soil, etc) so the roots can grow deep and strong. Environment manipulation doesn't work well for trees. I think the same is true for our children. A little wind isn't going to destroy them. It may make them stronger.

I'm not against home schooling. It may be the best option for some families and children. But as for our household, we're still debating this issue